• New full color original art by Michael William Kaluta, Echo Chernik, Steve Prescott, Christopher Shy, Larry MacDougall, and other classic Mage artists, as well as classic B&W pieces carefully chosen from the earlier editions.

Note about the Print editions:

Standard Color uses a thinner paper stock than Premium Color, basically the same paper as the Black & White books. This usually means the colors are less vivid, but it also means the price drops a bit per page in the production process.

Need to update my previous comment. Customer support sent me a new copy to replace the flawed one in a timely fashion, although I had missed the communications because I hadn't updated my email address. That's the good news. The bad news is that the replacement copy has a similar issue to the first's. Guess I'll duct tape it .

Jaime ZJanuary 05, 2018 4:55 pm UTC

PURCHASER

I ordered the standard heavyweight. After aboutbout fifteen minutes of perusing it the binding to the back hard cover just detached. Shoddy binding work and as of yet no reply Drive thru rpg when I contacted them about it. Pretty disappointed with the quality of the binding and the lack of support by Drive Thru.

Chris NDecember 02, 2017 11:01 pm UTC

Any updates on the binding issues from past postings?

john WJune 22, 2016 12:08 am UTC

PURCHASER

I ordered stander color and I think it is outstanding. The color is great, the pages are themselves are very good and the overall quality of the book is superb. I'll admit I didn't take clalipers or a level to the book so I might be easier to please then some, all I know is that I have a nice, sturdy, pretty and easy to read book on my shelf.

Tresi AMay 10, 2016 2:31 am UTC

PURCHASER

I wanted a cheap reference copy to have around the table after I convinced my group to give Mage a shot.

A friend who bought both Premium Heavyweight and Standard paper versions of Exalted 3rd Edition said there was almost no difference, so I went with the cheaper option. It feels like standard printer/copier paper. The pages and printing are matte and the color isn't quite as saturated, but the end result is perfectly readable. There's no bleed through the pages, even on the pages with the deep purple background text on the opposite side. Ink doesn't smear or anything when you touch it. The pages are full bleed, that is, the pages are cut so that color goes directly to the edge of the page. It looks good! It's perfectly serviceable as a reference copy.

The printed pages are 1 3/8 inches thick, and with the covers that comes to about 1 5/8 inches thick. There's a very slight ripple in the overall bulk of the pages if you look from the top or bottom of the book, but I can't tell if this...See more is just the cheaper paper or the overall humidity. My only complaint about the book is that the endpapers weren't entirely well adhered to cover interior (possibly also due to humidity?), especially on the back cover. I fixed this by using some hardware clamps and boards to put some pressure between the endpapers and the cover overnight.

The binding seems solid enough. I'll post an update if I have problems. I wonder if the premium paper is thicker, which exacerbates the binding/size issues?

I also opted for the media mail shipping since I wasn't in a hurry. The book comes in one of those wrapped, sealed cardboard sleeves that you might be used to from Amazon. I was expecting maybe some dinged corners or sides, but the book showed up in perfect condition a little over a week after I ordered it.

Sylvain PMarch 29, 2016 2:40 am UTC

PURCHASER

Fantastic PDF, terrible, terrible binding. Worst book binding I've seen in 25 year of collecting hundreds of books.

Michael SApril 04, 2016 12:21 pm UTC

Do you speak about the Hardcover Color Book (Premium Heavyweight) or the Hardcover Color Book (Standard)?

Sylvain PApril 12, 2016 1:17 pm UTC

PURCHASER

I have the Hardcover Color Book (Premium Heavyweight).

Desmond RFebruary 28, 2016 10:30 pm UTC

PURCHASER

There are conflicting reviews about the binding. Was it a previous issue that has since been fixed, or is it kind of random?

Aubrey EJanuary 20, 2016 10:15 pm UTC

PURCHASER

I have already contacted DTRPG to implement a return considering the spine is already broken on my book ... after LESS than TEN minutes of reading. The book is too big to be sold as POD. A total waste of money. Stick with the .pdf if you buy this book.

Michael SApril 04, 2016 12:21 pm UTC

Do you speak about the Hardcover Color Book (Premium Heavyweight) or the Hardcover Color Book (Standard)?

Arian MJanuary 12, 2016 10:46 pm UTC

PURCHASER

Had it bound properly, in purple leather and with gold lettering. Cost me 80 € - money well spent.

Chris MJanuary 27, 2016 10:28 pm UTC

Where did you have that done? A local book bindery or an online service?

Aubrey EJanuary 29, 2016 1:04 am UTC

PURCHASER

I have already priced getting a proper binding done on this book. Almost equal to the original cost. Yikes.

Sascha KOctober 11, 2015 7:37 pm UTC

PURCHASER

The perfect binding is a absolute no go. How should I use this book? If I use it on the game table I have faster loose pages then I can say Ascension.

Jacob DOctober 19, 2015 6:21 pm UTC

PURCHASER

It'll probably need to lay flat when in use. Otherwise you might be able to find a book binder?

Rory HNovember 09, 2015 1:24 am UTC

To date, I have to say, I've yet to get any problem out of the binding and I have run a session with it as well as reading, etc.

That said, 700 pages is always going to be a worry. My advice is to only use it in game preparation, as inspirational reading, and just print out (if you have a PDF) summaries of important rule sections as needed in game play. The rules are quite intuitive once you get through the complicated glossary - so maybe print those out first. I actually have made up folders (using the poster prints that you can buy, that come in art laden folders) for the players to keep character sheets and various notes in, so they can help adjudicate rules themselves as much as anything. I like to run games with lose interpretations of rules, and collaborative involvement anyway.

Beyond that, if you want it to last a long time as a guarantee, the only other thing I can suggest is a good book maker who can reinforce the binding through various techniques. If it falls apart on delivery...See more or anything, though, obviously contact Drivethru and get it replaced.

Michael SDecember 30, 2015 2:13 am UTC

I'm very concerned about this as well. I wonder if the Standard book would hold up better in use, since it's much less thick than the Premium, albeit much less pretty.

Christopher LJanuary 12, 2016 4:45 pm UTC

PURCHASER

I wouldnt get the standard the quality is sh*t I had to return mine. the pages were so thin they they rippled from the printing. the color is faded and the cheap paper feels like news paper like when you get those free comicbook ads at the comic store. the binding isnt attacked across the base its only connected at the joint of each cover.

Chris MJanuary 27, 2016 10:30 pm UTC

I agree, avoid the "Standard" version of any of the books offered on the site. They pages always seem to wrinkle as they are so thin (the paper itself) and the ink just ruins them. Go with the "Premium", especially when it has full colour and you'll get a better looking book.

Johnathan TSeptember 24, 2015 5:22 pm UTC

PURCHASER

From their Monday morning notes exalted 3ed is a 700 page beast.

Jim SDecember 06, 2015 11:55 pm UTC

Exalted 3ed --- any edition for that matter --- meh

Aubrey EJanuary 20, 2016 10:16 pm UTC

PURCHASER

Yep...another book that I will only purchase as a .pdf

Joseph MSeptember 23, 2015 4:20 pm UTC

PURCHASER

Wow. That price though. I guess that's going to be the standard for the 600+ OP beasts. Wonder if Exalted 3 is going to be near that.

Erik FSeptember 24, 2015 1:49 am UTC

PURCHASER

Remember that you're paying for a book that can stop bullets in a pinch.

Joseph MSeptember 24, 2015 1:21 pm UTC

PURCHASER

I use to own Fred/ReFred for Hero System. I get the idea.

Jeremy ROctober 11, 2015 8:54 pm UTC

PURCHASER

Damn, I knew I should have backed Exalted when I had the chance.

Jacob DOctober 20, 2015 12:42 pm UTC

PURCHASER

I think they said that Exalted 3 is gonna be about 700 pages in one of the Monday meeting notes

at almost 700 pages, this is a massive tome, beautifully printed and lovingly illustrated. if you are a fan of the series, this is worth spending a bit extra to get the high quality print. contains core rules, examples of play, details for both traditi [...]

There's too much to say about how excellent this is -- but it can all be culminated in a simple "This is the BEST version of Mage." -- any other discussion is just trying to convince you to be "into" the game -- but if you already [...]

As a fan of World of Darkness fan, I like Vampire 20 and Hunter 20 a lot, and I adore Werewolf 20, I've read the first edition of Mage: The Ascension and so I was very hyped to get M20. M20 is great, the book is superb, explains well to tellers [...]

Really nice book - it has everything to get you started and more. In fact the only issue I have with this book that it's so big it's hard to find things you need during the game. Content seems to be randomly scattered. But once you prepare yourself it' [...]

I was extremely disappointed in the binding and quality of this book. It feels like it might fall apart at any second, and I just opened it. I bought the Premium Heavyweight and the paper is pretty low quality, and I've bought new textbooks at the same [...]

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